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Workplace precautions for bloodborne pathogens

Kansas State University voluntarily complies with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030. In addition, medical services waste is regulated by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) under K.A.R. 28-29-27. The university administration, to insure a safe work environment for all employees, adopts this Kansas State University policy on Work Place Precautions for Bloodborne Pathogens. This policy will minimize work place exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and other bloodborne pathogens. Wherever the term "blood" is found in this policy, it implies blood or other potentially infectious material capable of acting as a vehicle for HIV, HBV, or other bloodborne pathogens.

Each department having an employee or employees with occupational exposure to human blood must establish a written Exposure Control Plan designed to eliminate or minimize employee exposure. Employees considered to have occupational exposure to human blood include: health professionals and paraprofessionals in Lafene Health Center, the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, and Recreational Services; police in the Division of Public Safety; laboratory personnel working with human blood or other human pathogens in the Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Department of Veterinary Diagnosis, Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Department of Foods and Nutrition and Department of Kinesiology; emergency first-aid responders in any department; and custodians in the Division of Facilities who may be required to clean up spilled human blood.

Methods of compliance including handling, storing and disposing of human blood and medical services waste are published by the Division of Public Safety is available in hard copy from the Division. Additional information concerning HIV research, HBV vaccinations, HIV and HBV exposure incident reporting, hazard communication, training and recordkeeping may be found in the published guideline.

Used sharps such as hypodermic needles and syringes, scalpel blades, suture needles, razor blades, pasteur pipettes, or other sharp objects must be stored in a closed, rigid, puncture proof container. The Division of Public Safety operates the "SHARPS PROGRAM" for the university by distributing properly labeled one gallon plastic containers to departments that request them. On request, the Division of Public Safety will pick up the container and properly dispose of the sharp objects. At no time may sharps be discarded in the trash.

Other medical services wastes will be handled by the Division of Public Safety for pick up and disposal. Materials will be transported in "International Orange" (red) containers to the Hazardous Waste Storage Facility to await disposal.